by Jaye Shields
Sparrow’s image became a whirl of blood-stained sunlight as the fresh round of poison seeped into his system.
“Wrap her up.”
At Mord’s command, Rowen watched in agony as a blur of huntsman approached her hazy image and wrapped the same barbed steel around her limp form.
“Leave her. You have me; I will tell you all you want to know about the Quetzalem if you free her.” But Rowen’s words went unnoticed. His lips had moved, but the poison was hindering his abilities to speak in foreign tongues. His mind was beginning to weaken.
The soothsayer’s warning spun in his mind like a fresh round of poison.
He’d break his arms off if he had to in order to get to her. He wouldn’t let his love die.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Hours of torture had taken their toll on not only her body but now her mind. Sparrow glanced up, using the last ounce of effort she had to lift her head over the agonizing pain in her neck. She must be close to dying, because the image of her mom’s face dangled before her, a dizzying image that made Sparrow smile.
This life flashing before my eyes thing is pretty nice.
But a chilling sensation settled over Sparrow. Before her ascent to heaven, why could she not see a smile on her mom’s expression? Why was her mom in tears? And why wasn’t an image of Rowen, lying in a field with her arms around her, following?
The blood seeping into her ears from her various head wounds blocked out the haze of sounds all around her. Roars and screams or songs, she didn’t know.
But her mom, she was still there, and her mom was open, like she was screaming. And tears were in her eyes.
Don’t cry, Mom.
Sparrow used her free hand to wipe the blood from her eyes. Dang blood was everywhere, she thought hazily.
Upon forcing some of the blood from her gaze, she was finally able to focus through a crimson-washed lens. The King Hy-Breasal was standing beside her mom. Sparrow’s head lulled to the side, and she took in another sight. Rowen. Her love. He had come for her, and now he was here, bleeding from where he was strapped to a granite rock like some sort of sacrifice. He was bleeding almost as much as her and his eyes were haunted. She didn’t like to see them that way. She liked them when they were smiling, teasing her as he rejoiced in successful efforts to make her smile. They had only had that for a short time, but it had been enough for her.
She supposed she could die happy.
Suddenly Rowen went berserk within his binds against the stone. His body arching, his wrists bleeding as the wire cut deeper into his skin. The object of Rowen’s enraged frenzy pierced into her gut, cutting like sharp metal often does. But pain all became a warm tingle after a while.
It’s when the cold sets in that you say your last good-byes.
She wanted to talk, but her face just didn’t work anymore. She wasn’t sure that if she could even turn her head to face her mother one last time, she’d be able to mouth I love you. She could try to use a loving gaze — surely her mom would recognize that.
Manifesting every last drop of life left in her body, Sparrow forced her head to lull in the direction where she had last seen her mother.
She’s running toward me. She wants to give me a hug.
But reality rushed in on Sparrow along with the dreaded chill she wasn’t ready for. She heard a blood-chilling scream and only realized it was her own as her mother sank into her arms. She sobbed through blood and tears as her mom’s embrace jerked against the impact of the last arrow. The arrow that had been intended for Sparrow’s heart.
Her mom sank with her to the ground, both of them on their knees. The pain disappeared for Sparrow, and all she could feel was Egret’s palms cupping her cheeks.
Blood began to peek from her mother’s lips like crimson lip gloss.
“I love you, Sparrow.”
Her mother’s blue eyes bore into her own.
Her mother couldn’t die. It was Sparrow’s damn fault for running off like a love-scorned idiot into the middle of nowhere in a foreign realm.
Forgive me, Mom.
“Sparrow,” her mother’s hands began to glow as they cupped Sparrow’s cheeks. The warm, tingling sensation chased away the cold of death.
She’s healing me. Fear clutched at Sparrow until she could hardly breathe. Heal yourself, heal yourself.
Blood continued to peek out of her mother’s lips. “Let love be in your life, Sparrow.” Her mother smiled and reckless tears made tracks of heat down Sparrow’s cheeks. “I have love too, Sparrow. Thank you for helping me find it again. You are the greatest gift of my life, created by the greatest love the world has ever seen.”
The world around became even more of a blood-soaked blur. The earth shook as she sobbed against her mother, their faces just centimeters apart, the warmth of their skin tickling the air between them. Bright light still stung her eyes from the bright light of her mother’s powerful healing.
Her mom’s grip weakened.
Don’t die! Heal yourself! Sparrow tried to scream, but there was only silence as sticky bubbles of blood popped against her swollen lips.
“Brennus is your father, Sparrow. I love you.”
Sparrow watched her mother smile for the last time. “Your aunts were right. I am a good healer.”
And then her mom’s eyes shut, and the weight of her body collapsed into Sparrow’s arms.
• • •
Brennus Hy-Breasal had lived long enough to witness tragedy time and time again. But he had never experienced despair. His only daughter knelt on the cold ground, her face hardly recognizable, blood seeping from every inch of her. Rowen, one of his best knights, was also brutally tortured, but he would be fine. He would be able to fight.
Unsheathing his sword, he ran toward Rowen. Deflecting arrows with Excalibur, he swung hard at Rowen’s bindings. Sodor and Zeth were on his sides cutting through the humans like butter. More guards continued to stream out of the fortress, but the knights held them off.
Brennus turned as a human approached his back. Driving Excalibur into the man’s shoulder, Breasal saw Egret kneeling against Sparrow.
His heart stopped. Egret had an arrow deep into her back, blood seeping from the wound where her heart was. Her body was still, and light was fading from her form as it crumpled against Sparrow.
Brennus took a step forward but sank to his knees.
The knights fighting on all sides became a blur. They protected him from the walls of violence, but it didn’t matter anymore. Crippled by agony, Breasal wished he were mortal. Immediately, he wanted to die. He lost Egret once. He would not lose her again, even if he had to follow her in death.
Brennus, a sweet whisper hummed against his ear. Warmth caressed his earlobe as if someone had breathed against him. Brennus, I love you. I have saved our daughter, but now you must keep her safe. The voice became more distant, and tears escaped him. Keep her safe.
The knight glanced at Sparrow with desperate eyes, and Brennus realized that Rowen loved his daughter. “Rowen. Sparrow is alive, but she needs the blood of a Quetzalem. Sodor and Zeth will finish off anyone who dares come near. Go!”
With one last haunted glance, Rowen disappeared inside the fortress to obtain the healing fluid.
Brennus knelt by Egret, crumpled over onto Sparrow’s still-bleeding form. His daughter’s sobs shook her entire body like convulsions. Tears ran freely down his own skin as he took Egret into his arms. Still as bright and beautiful as ever, she still looked like the bright -eyed young hippie girl he fell in love with.
How much time had passed while he held Egret in his arms, he did not know. But Rowen had returned with the liquid. The sound of hooves pounding against the ground caught his attention. Sabin and Tera bounded toward them. Reinforcements.
The only light that Brennus had was the trust
that his knights would protect and heal his daughter. Now he would do the best thing a father could do and take care of her mother.
Brennus met Sparrow’s haunted, still gaze, which had never left her mother’s face. “Daughter, I must take her away.”
He stood with his love, lifeless in his arms, as Rowen knelt by his daughter to administer the Quetzalem blood. Rowen would take care of Sparrow.
With no further words able to escape the catch in his throat, Brennus commanded a portal to open. Disappearing into the bright white light, Brennus traveled to a realm that only few could visit.
Just as he had promised himself, he would never leave Egret’s side. And so he carried her body to its final resting place.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Brennus stepped into the bright white radiance of the highest realm, Egret a lifeless slump in his arms, her body cold against his heart. Gods and Goddesses weren’t even allowed access to the realm. This was the one true heaven.
A soft voice warmed the air all around him. “Brennus Hy-Breasal. What has brought an earthly immortal to the realm of divine eternity?”
“I have come to bring you another angel.”
“She has a bright light of her own within.” The gentle voice was both masculine and feminine, and spoke words that Brennus had known to be true for more than twenty-three years.
“But I have also come to argue for her release. She was taken before her time.”
“She was not taken. She gave her life to save another, and that should be honored.”
“Please, let me take her place.”
“You have your place.” The air whispered the calm rejection.
Looking down, Brennus could no longer see Egret’s form within the bright light. Slowly, her body became lighter and lighter within his grasp. “No.”
“She must come to us, Brennus Hy-Breasal, you know this.”
“Please.” But even as he spoke the words, Egret’s form faded into the abyss. She was gone. A tear slid down his cheek and was instantly dried.
“There are no tears here, Brennus, only joy. As an immortal, you have seen much death.”
“Yet I have not. I would die a thousand times for her to live.”
“You and your knights are a powerful force in keeping the forces of good and evil in balance. There are many who die before they are ready, but it is the way.
He’d never be ready for Egret to die. He needed endless days of happiness with her.
The emptiness assaulting his palms brought Brennus to his knees, and he landed on fuzzy warmth.
“You have a great duty that accompanies your immortality.” The kind voice filled Brennus with hope. “And so you both shall be granted a special gift.”
Anticipation flooded Brennus. His heart surging with need to have Egret back, he bowed down to the ground, resting his head on his hands in prayer.
“Egret will have access to three realms. She can join the Kingdom of Heaven as ethereal light, she can visit the Human Realm in spirit, and within your magickal kingdom, she will be embodied once more.”
Tears of happiness escaped his lids in silent gratitude. He didn’t waver from his position of prayer. Instead, he cried, letting his gratitude and happiness dry against his cheeks as the heavenly light caused them to evaporate.
“Brennus.” A soft smiling voice awoke him from his devotion. He looked up, but only saw a fuzzy outline within the blinding light of heaven. He stared into the abyss, his eyes burning until stars erupted. But a hazy image of Egret manifested before his eyes. Her smile brought him to his feet.
“Take me home, my love, and make good on that offer you made so long ago.”
He held his hand out into the light. “Gladly, my love. Gladly.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
For the second time, Sparrow awoke in her own bed surrounded by concerned friends and family.
Man, déjà vu much?
Even Tera was there, back from her honeymoon with Sabin, concern lighting up her emerald gaze. But there was another face that hadn’t been there the first time she’d been bed-ridden.
Rowen.
Immortals didn’t need sleep, but he looked tired as hell. She smiled through a slight pain when Rowen laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. Poor guy must be shy in front of Mom.
“Where’s Mom?”
Panic struck her, stilling the blood in her veins.
Rowen’s hands clutched hers tightly.
“Honey,” Morgana started but didn’t finish. Sparrow tried to read the sound in her aunt’s voice, but memories already began haunting her.
“Mom?” Sparrow’s voice called out, but it caught in her throat as reality rushed in.
“I’m here.” The ethereal voice of her mother was a soft whisper that drifted through the room. Sparrow tried to get up in bed, but Rowen stilled her, his brows knit in concern over her injuries.
Just as desperation clawed at her, a hazy outline began to form at the foot of her bed.
“I’m here, my darling.” Her mother’s voice took on a ghostly form.
“Oh my God.”
“Yes, God was definitely involved.” The smiling image was semi-transparent, flickering with light.
“We’ll give you some time alone.” Morgana guided the crowd out the room.
“C’mon, stud muffin.” Melissandra pulled on Rowen, but he took his time.
“I’ll be right outside.”
Sparrow watched Rowen depart, his eyes never leaving her until he was through the door. All the things he’d said to her came back. He loved her.
“I’m so happy for you.” Her mother smiled, but tears stung Sparrow’s eyes.
“Why? Because I survived and you didn’t?”
“Of course not. Because you’re in love. And you’re very loved back. I’m leaving you in capable hands.”
“Don’t leave me at all.” Sparrow didn’t breathe, for if she did, sobs would overtake her body.
“I’ll be close by, honey. Always.” Egret reached out to cup Sparrow’s cheek, but halted, remembering she was nothing more than a ghost. “Things are not as bad as they seem.”
Sparrow began to sob anyway. Her mom was here, but she couldn’t hug her. She wanted to hold tight to her and cry for hours, just like she’d done so many times during her childhood. But she’d never be able to do that again.
“I’m going to leave you now, but I want you to do me a favor.”
“Yeah, I know. Have a good life, yada yada,” she choked out through tears.
“No. And don’t interrupt me. Just because I’ve passed on doesn’t mean I liked to be sassed, young lady. I’ll always be your mother.”
Sparrow sobbed even harder. God, she wished her mom could chide her every day.
“I’m sorry Mom, whatever favor you want, I’ll do it. I’ll even go to college.”
“Well, college wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but that would be great, honey.”
Tears lessening just enough, Sparrow rubbed her eyes to focus on her mother’s translucent image. She still looked beautiful, and was smiling more than Sparrow had ever seen. “I love you so much, Mom.”
“I love you, too, honey, that’s why I want you to come visit me in the Kingdom Hy-Breasal three days from today. That’s my favor.”
“What? You mean you’re not even going to haunt our house?”
Egret narrowed her eyes, but the smile never left her face. “I’m not planning on haunting anything. I’m trying to invite you to my wedding.”
Jaw-drop. “Your wedding?”
“Of course, your father asked me to marry him twenty-three years ago, and I never got the chance.”
“My long-lost father is going to marry a ghost.”
Sparrow was at a loss for words. Comi
ng to terms with the fact that she even had a father was still a shock. But as she continued to stare at her mother’s flickering image, warmth and happiness radiated from the ghost’s form. Not only did Sparrow finally have a father, she was seeing her mother in love for the first time.
“I guess he’s even cooler than I thought he was. He’s the luckiest guy in the world.” Sparrow threw herself into her mother’s arms, and collapsed through the image. “Oops.”
“He’s also the luckiest father. I’ll see you next week. I want to formally introduce you two.”
Crestfallen, Sparrow wished she could at least hug her mother good-bye.
“I’ll give you a big hug the next time I see you.” With that, the ghostly form of her mother winked, and disappeared.
Her bedroom door opened and Rowen walked in. “Are you okay, my love?”
“Your love, huh?” She watched him approach, all glorious six feet of him. “I could get used to that.”
His smile lit up the room and his aquamarine gaze made the rest of the world fade away. “Should we make it a double wedding?”
A careful thumb pushed away her last remaining tear.
“I guess it’s true what they say about near-death experiences making men commit.” She explored the planes of his face and hoped that she was still too bruised to blush at his teasing suggestion.
“Sparrow, I’ve known of my love for you for a long while now. Hell, even Sodor knew. I’m sorry I kept so much from you. It will never happen again, I can promise you that.” Taking her chin in his hand, he brought her closer. Careful not to disturb her injuries, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips. She never wanted it to end.
“I will promise you though, that I want to be forever by your side. So until the day you’re ready to marry, I’ll be courting you.”
His words put her happiness at a new high.
“I’d marry you tomorrow, but I have to say, this courting thing sounds fun.”
Melissandra’s voice teased through the closed door, “Yeah, she’s always wanted to be hard to get.”
